Unique flowers that you can look at for minutes without getting bored. They are vaguely reminiscent of the flowers of rhododendrons. But only if the care is right does the mountain laurel produce its flowers every year and grow fabulously.
How do you properly care for mountain laurel?
The optimal care of the mountain laurel includes regular watering with low-lime water to prevent dryness and, if necessary, fertilization in spring. Pruning is rarely necessary and mountain laurel is frost hardy, but young specimens should be protected in winter.
Can mountain laurel tolerate drought or do you need to water it?
The mountain laurel does not tolerate prolonged drought. The soil should therefore not dry out. As soon as the surface has dried, you should water the plant - as long as there is no rain. If it is in a pot, it needs to be watered more often. This is especially true when it is in full sun. It is best to keep the soil slightly moist there.
Attention: Only use low-lime water for watering. Rainwater or stale tap water are well suited. The reason is that this heather plant is extremely sensitive to lime. Too much lime in the irrigation water can later lead to lime spots on the leaves.
Is fertilization necessary?
Basically, it is hardly or not at all necessary to fertilize mountain laurel outdoors. However, if you want to stimulate its growth and strengthen it, you should keep this in mind:
- provide fertilizer once a year
- ideal time: spring
- Use organic fertilizer e.g. B. Compost (€41.00 at Amazon) or horn shavings
- alternatively provided with bark mulch
How do you cut mountain laurel correctly?
Overall, mountain laurel tolerates pruning well. But a cut is rarely necessary. The reason is the slow growth of this plant. You are welcome to remove the withered flowers in summer and thin out the plant in spring. For bushier growth, it is also possible to shorten the shoots slightly. Then they branch out better.
Does the plant need to be overwintered?
Since mountain laurel is extremely frost hardy, it does not need to be protected from frost or even overwintered. The exception is specimens that are in a rough location. You should protect these with brushwood or pine branches. In addition, young specimens are considered sensitive to frost. They should also receive winter protection.
Tip
When handling mountain laurel, always remember that it is a highly poisonous plant. To protect yourself, you should therefore wear gloves and, if necessary, mouth and eye protection.